Russian nesting doll

Russian nesting doll

Reuters photo

A vendor displays a traditional Matryoshka doll or Russian nesting doll, bearing the faces of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev at a souvenir market in St. Petersburg. Opinion polls indicate that Putin, who said on Saturday he would seek a return to the presidency after nearly four years as prime minister, is much more popular than his potential rivals and all but certain to win next March's presidential election.

A vendor displays a traditional Matryoshka doll or Russian nesting doll, bearing the faces of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev at a souvenir market in St. Petersburg. Opinion polls indicate that Putin, who said on Saturday he would seek a return to the presidency after nearly four years as prime minister, is much more popular than his potential rivals and all but certain to win next March's presidential election. (Reuters photo)

A vendor displays a traditional Matryoshka doll or Russian nesting doll, bearing the faces of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev at a souvenir market in St. Petersburg. Opinion polls indicate that Putin, who said on Saturday he would seek a return to the presidency after nearly four years as prime minister, is much more popular than his potential rivals and all but certain to win next March's presidential election.